As news comes out about Valley Children's Hospital's high rate of executive pay, an examination of public records reveals the hospital's community benefit fund lags other children's hospitals. The IRS and hospitals have an understanding. In 2020, an estimated $28 billion in taxes were exempted from nonprofit hospitals, according to...
Fresno’s Hatfields & McCoys: City Sues County Over General Plan
The latest chapter of angst between the city and county of Fresno will play out in a local courthouse. Thursday, the Fresno City Council announced it is suing Fresno County over the latter's general plan. Fresno City Attorney Andrew Janz told Politics 101 that the city "was forced to file...
Is Fresno Superintendent Hire an Inside Job? Trustees to Look Only at In-House Candidates
Fresno Unified School Board will consider only current employees initially in their search for a new superintendent, despite calls from the teachers union president, city councilmembers, and a local developer for a wider and more transparent search to make sure that trustees hire the best-qualified person to lead the state's...
Fresno MAGA Activist Jason Phillips Dies in Solo Car Crash
Broken glass and bits of car parts remain on Copper Avenue near north Fresno. Memorials, with candles and beer cans, honor the lives of two men killed in a one-car traffic collision early Monday morning. Law enforcement said 24-year-old Jason Phillips and 32-year-old Chase McCutcheon died after a Tesla Model...
Valley Children’s Sends Third Party to KMJ to Explain Suntrapak’s Salary, Benefits
After stories came out about executive pay rates far above most other children's or local hospitals, Valley Children's felt the need to respond on air. But it wasn't CEO Todd Suntrapak who provided context for the large bonuses that elevated his IRS-reported salary to $5.2 million in 2021. Instead, the...
Boomtown Clovis: 600 Homes Win Partial Approval, More Land Annexed
Clovis is a step closer growing to the north. The city council Monday night gave partial approval to a new home development that will eventually add more than 600 moderate-to-above-moderate rate homes — some in a gated community — developed by Wilson Homes. The project was first proposed in 2016....
Records Show That Valley Children’s Leader Suntrapak’s Pay Exceeds $5 Million
â– Valley Children's paid CEO Todd Suntrapak $5.2 million in 2021. The hospital also gave him a $5 million forgivable home loan. â– The Valley Children's board wants executives to be in the top 90% of hospitals in the country. â– The Valley Children's executive team earned $5.1 million in bonuses. In 2021,...
Will FUSD Trustees Look First Only at Internal Candidates in Superintendent Search?
â– The Fresno Unified School Board on Wednesday will talk about whether to initially limit the pool of superintendent candidates to district employees. â– The trustees are searching for a new superintendent to replace Bob Nelson. â– The School Board will take into account the superintendent characteristics that community members said in listening...
Fresno Bank Sued. It Allegedly Helped Bitwise Commit Fraud.
â– Central Valley Community Bank faces a lawsuit related to Bitwise's financial meltdown. â– Former Bitwise business partner accuses the bank of covering up fraud. â– NICbyte claims damages exceeding $50 million. A former business partner of Bitwise Industries sued the bankrupt company's bank, claiming it helped aid the fraud that eventually led...
Special Congressional Election Tuesday. How Many Have Voted Already?
â– Special election for Congressional District 20 concludes Tuesday. â– Winner will serve remainder of term until Jan. 3, 2025. â– Vince Fong and Mike Boudreaux finished 1-2 in the March 5 election. Just two weeks after voters made one decision about the future of Congressional District 20, a special election concludes this...